Schools by area › Cheshire West and Chester › The Catholic High School, Chester
The Catholic High School, Chester
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Old Wrexham Road, Handbridge, Chester CH4 7HS · christofidelis.org.uk · 01244 952788
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 46.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Cheshire West and Chester 44.6, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 797
- 71% of 1,117 places
- Local authority
- Cheshire West and Chester
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 23%
- First language not English
- 17.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Cheshire West and Chester Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 70 families put the school first and 72 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 72 | 70 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 106 | 96 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 83 | 75 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 83 | 72 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 85 | 76 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 46.7, and 44.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Cheshire West and Chester it was 44.6, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (26.4 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●46.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ●44.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ●63.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼15.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.00 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 59.3 | +7.2 |
| Further education | 19.3 | −3.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.7 | −0.7 |
| Employment | 3.7 | −9.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.4 | +6.9 |
| Activity not captured | 6.7 | +3.9 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77 students | C- (26.4) | Below average -0.34 | |
| 77 students | C- (26.4) | Below average -0.34 | |
| 30 students | Merit (24.4) | Average -0.01 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 70 | C (31.7) | +0.09 |
| 2022/23 | 71 | C- (28.1) | — |
| 2021/22 | 71 | C (28.7) | — |
| 2018/19 | 71 | C+ (34.5) | +0.29 |
| 2017/18 | 90 | C+ (32.1) | -0.04 |
| 2016/17 | 100 | C (31.3) | +0.06 |
| 2015/16 | 135 | C (31.2) | +0.06 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 49.4 | −14.5 |
| Further and other education | 3.8 | +2.4 |
| Further education | 1.3 | — |
| Other education | 2.5 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 6.3 | +2.1 |
| Employment | 27.8 | +7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.6 | −0.7 |
| Activity not captured | 5.1 | +3.7 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Catholic High School, Chester on 19 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 19 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Sept 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Sept 2006Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding
What parents said
91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (137 replies, to 5 September 2022).
- Recommend
- 91%
- Replies
- 137
- 16% · 5 Sept 2022
based on the 72% who raised concerns
based on the 32% who had a child bullied
based on 27 parents (20%) with SEND